Prostitution by country
The prostitution is to be found in virtually every culture. The social evaluation of prostitution depends on cultural, ethical and religious values and is subject to rapid change.
In many countries, at least since the EU Parliament issued a recommendation in 2014 that all member states of the EU should ban prostitution in their countries in the future, as it is to be assessed as a violation of human rights and a form of violence against women, there is a tendency towards the principle of abolition , at least but stronger state regulation of prostitution can be observed. In 2016 , France followed the so-called Nordic model , which has been in place in Sweden , Norway and Iceland for years . Some countries, such as Switzerland and the Netherlands , tend to follow the decriminalization principle . In Germany, the Prostitution Act from 2001 was replaced by the Prostitute Protection Act (2016).
In Islamic countries, prostitution is prohibited as fornication under Islamic law and is usually punished in a draconian way.
German-speaking countries
| country | situation |
|---|---|
| Germany | There is no scientifically reliable information on prostitution in Germany, neither on the number of prostitutes nor on the number of customers ( clients ). According to estimates, there could be 400,000 or fewer prostitutes in Germany. This includes casual prostitutes, the number of which is stated differently depending on the definition. Around 95% of those who engage in prostitution are female; it is assumed that more than half of all prostitutes come from abroad, the majority from Eastern Europe.
According to the Prostitute Protection Act of July 2016, prostitution is legal in Germany, provided that it is practiced voluntarily by adults. However, the aim of the legislation is to give prostitutes the opportunity to quit, as free choice is often not given due to difficult psychological and social circumstances and a lack of alternatives. The prostitution of people under the age of 18 and forced prostitution are generally punishable for both customers and pimps because of human trafficking . See also: Prostitution in Germany , Prostitution in the German Democratic Republic |
| Austria | The following is punishable for the client, according to the Criminal Code Section 207b ( sexual abuse of young people ), provided that the prostitute is younger than 18 years, mediation of sexual contacts with minors against payment (Section 214), induction into prostitution (Section 215), promotion prostitution of minors (Section 215a), pimping (Section 216), and cross-border prostitution trafficking (Section 217). Because it is forbidden according to Section 216 of the Criminal Code to obtain income from prostitution for another person , there is no possibility of working as an employee as a prostitute. However, prostitutes are considered to be “self-employed”.
In the individual federal states , state laws deal with further regulations on prostitution such as registration obligations and time and location restrictions. The regulations are strictest in Vorarlberg . There, prostitution is only allowed in approved brothels, although no brothel has been approved so far (as of July 2011) , so that a de facto ban on prostitution applies. In 2011 there were around 70 to 100 illegal brothels in Vorarlberg. |
| Switzerland | In Switzerland are sexual services and consumption of paid sex legal. Nevertheless, according to the federal court, prostitution is immoral. The canton of Bern has repealed the immorality for its territory by law. There is a relatively high density of brothels in Switzerland, which also advertise themselves intensively in daily newspapers, relevant magazines and, last but not least, on the Internet. Foreign prostitutes from countries in the European Union are allowed to work 90 days a year, but not from third countries in principle. According to Art. 196 of the Swiss Criminal Code , clients of prostitutes who are under the age of 18 are liable to prosecution.
See also: Prostitution in Switzerland |
| Liechtenstein | Prostitution is prohibited in Liechtenstein , but with the exception of street prostitution, it is tolerated by the law enforcement authorities . |
Rest of Europe
| country | situation |
|---|---|
| Albania | Prostitution is prohibited in Albania, but this state is a country of origin for victims of human trafficking . |
| Belgium | Belgium has relatively liberal prostitution legislation. In Belgium, however, there is some control of prostitution and the establishments by the authorities. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Prostitution is prohibited in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| Bulgaria | Prostitution is illegal in Bulgaria, but the police allow it. While there were 3,149 prostitutes registered by the police in 1989, the number was almost twice as high in 2007. Since the beginning of 2007 there have been discussions as to whether prostitution should be totally banned or limited within a legally regulated framework. The majority of Bulgarians are against legalizing prostitution. |
| Denmark | Prostitution is allowed in Denmark and is more socially acceptable than in other Scandinavian countries. Until 1999, prostitutes were not allowed to live on sexual services alone, but had to prove that they had another income. |
| Finland | The Finnish government originally planned a total ban on prostitution with criminal liability for clients based on the Swedish model. Since there was no parliamentary majority in sight, a modified law was passed on June 21, 2006. According to this, clients only make themselves liable to prosecution if they use the services of prostitutes who have a pimp or who are victims of human trafficking. The penalty for clients in this case is imprisonment of up to six months or a fine. Public advertising for prostitution and contact initiation on public streets and squares as well as in restaurants has been banned for a long time. |
| France | The brothel culture in France was world famous until World War II, there were noble brothels and mass brothels. Brothels were banned in 1946 by a law initiated by Christian Democrats and Communists ( “Loi Marthe Richard ” ), other prostitution remained legal. At the end of 2011, the number of prostitutes was estimated at 20,000. In December 2013, the National Assembly passed a law with a large majority, according to which suitors should be punished. Since the law came into force in April 2016, prostitution has been illegal in France. |
| Greece | Greece has liberal legislation that is somewhat similar to the regulations of Germany, Switzerland or the Netherlands. All prostitutes must register with the authorities and have regular medical examinations. |
| Ireland (Republic) | In the Republic of Ireland, sex for a fee is strictly forbidden and is a criminal offense for both clients and prostitutes. However, an underground scene mainly exists in Dublin . The establishment of contacts takes place discreetly, especially in pubs . |
| Iceland | In the absence of visible prostitution, no legal regulation in this area was enacted in Iceland until the early 1990s. In the middle of this decade , numerous nightclubs emerged, especially in Reykjavík , in which Eastern Europeans in particular work as barmaids , dancers and prostitutes.
The Icelandic government was forced to regulate this area by law, and in 2005 initially introduced a restrictive criminal law . Article 206 of the Icelandic Criminal Code ( Almenn hegningarlög ) stated: "Anyone who uses prostitution for a living is punished with a prison sentence of up to two years." This meant that the purchase of sexual services was still legal, but the prostitutes themselves were thus made illegal. This provision was changed on March 17, 2007. Between 2007 and 2009, both offering and purchasing sexual services were legal. Since 2009, however, according to Swedish law, suitors have been punished with up to one year in prison. |
| Italy |
Prostitutes on the street in Turin
After a total ban in the fascist era , Italy initially allowed brothels in 1948. With the law of 1958, however, these had to be closed again. Furthermore, there was the street prostitution that takes place on the outskirts of major cities, especially on rural roads. Apartment prostitution is also permitted, provided that no third person makes their apartment available for such purposes. Prostitutes are not allowed to pick up customers directly. Sexual acts on public property (including in a car) are punishable. In recent times the increasing number of illegal prostitutes from Africa and Eastern Europe has caused problems. A proposal made in 2002 by the Minister of Social Affairs, Livia Turco, to re-allow state-controlled brothels in order to remove the foundation for uncontrollable street prostitution, met with rejection and even outrage from politicians and the general public. Feminist groups and some Catholic bishops, however, are calling for suitors to be punished according to the Swedish model. |
| Lithuania | In Lithuania, practicing, using and promoting prostitution is a criminal offense. If minors are involved in these crimes, this has an aggravating effect. |
| Luxembourg | Brothels are prohibited in Luxembourg, but street and apartment prostitution are permitted. |
| Netherlands |
Amsterdam red light district De Wallen
The Netherlands has very liberal prostitution legislation. In large cities in particular, red light districts are also considered to be tourist attractions (especially the Walletjes district in Amsterdam ). Typical for the red light district in the Netherlands (as well as partly in Belgium) are the Koberfenster . |
| Norway | Brothels were banned in Norway as early as 1884, and in 1893 the obligation to register and the mandatory medical examinations for prostitutes were lifted. Prostitution as such was not prohibited. Since 1995 it has been a criminal offense to rent out rooms for the purpose of prostitution. Street prostitution is illegal, but it does happen. Since around 2000 women's and social organizations have been calling for the introduction of the “Swedish model”. These demands gained support in parts of the population and in the political parties through an increase in street prostitution and reports of human trafficking. In April 2007, the government coalition made up of the Social Democratic Workers' Party , the Left Socialists and the Center Party announced a draft law that, following the Swedish model, threatens all suitors with punishment, while prostitutes do not make themselves liable to prosecution. The opposition Christian Democrats also indicated their approval. In 2009 Norway introduced the Swedish model of punishing suitors. |
| Portugal | There were state-licensed brothels until 1962. Anyone who worked as a prostitute there was subject to registration and had to be checked regularly for sexually transmitted diseases . In 1963 the military government banned all forms of prostitution. After Portugal returned to democracy , the ban was lifted on January 1, 1983, but the re-introduction of the obligation to register and investigate was not carried out. Prostitutes may be prosecuted for “violating public morals”, but such proceedings are rare. Street prostitution plays a major role, along with sexual services in brothels, night clubs and model apartments. An estimated 6,500 prostitutes work in the capital, Lisbon . |
| Romania | Prostitution is illegal in Romania, but it is widespread. Since health checks are not common, a high number of prostitutes are infected with sexually transmitted diseases . A legalization of prostitution is therefore occasionally called for; for most politicians, however, this topic is too sensitive. |
| Russia | The practice of prostitution in Russia is only threatened with a fine and is largely tolerated. Any form of aiding and abetting ( pimping , running a brothel, etc.) is a criminal offense. |
| Sweden | In Sweden, on January 1, 1999, the “Law on the Prohibition of Purchasing Sexual Services” came into force: “Anyone who gives themselves the opportunity to engage in sexual activity in return for payment is - unless the act is punishable under the Criminal Code - for purchase sexual services are punished with a fine or imprisonment for up to six months. ” In contrast to the regulations in many other countries, only the customers are punishable here, not the prostitutes. |
| Spain | In Spain prostitution is not explicitly regulated by law, but it is largely tolerated and widespread. It takes place as street prostitution, as well as in so-called clubs (brothels) and model apartments. It is estimated that there are up to 300,000 prostitutes in Spain, with many immigrants from Latin America, Africa or Eastern Europe. |
| Turkey | There are state-licensed brothels in Turkey. Outside of these, prostitution is officially prohibited. However, street prostitution in particular, which occurs in many places, is largely tolerated. |
| Hungary | Prostitution has been legal in Hungary since 1999, but it can only be practiced in approved zones. So far there are no legal red light districts , as the mayors are resisting their establishment. Prostitution in Hungary is therefore legal under the law, but in practice it can only be carried out illegally. It is estimated that there are 500 illegal brothels in Budapest and 100,000 prostitutes in Hungary. According to a court ruling from the Hungarian county of Baranya in 2006, sex workers must pay tax on their prostitution income. |
| United Kingdom | The UK allows prostitution to be practiced in apartments or houses where no more than three people are offering their services at the same time. Larger establishments are prohibited. In order to comply with the law, several prostitutes often share a room in a three-room apartment on different days or times. Since prostitutes are not allowed to advertise in public, small pieces of paper are stuck to public telephone booths with the names and telephone numbers of service providers. |
Africa
| country | situation |
|---|---|
| Egypt | Prostitution is officially banned in Egypt, a fine . |
| Mauritania | Prostitution is forbidden. |
| Sudan | Prostitution is forbidden: imprisonment or death penalty . |
Asia
| country | situation |
|---|---|
| Armenia | Prostitution is prohibited in Armenia, but this state has been a country of origin for victims of human trafficking since the collapse of the Soviet Union . |
| Azerbaijan | Prostitution is banned in Azerbaijan, but this state has been a country of origin for victims of human trafficking since the collapse of the Soviet Union. |
| People's Republic of China | In the Maoist era, the Communist Party tried to destroy prostitution. But it has been widespread again since the 1980s and has developed into an industry. The government is taking action against this with stricter laws and police campaigns. However, there are also voices calling for legalization. |
| Japan |
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Prostitution was banned in Japan in 1958. Prostitution is very narrowly defined as vaginal sexual intercourse for a fee. Oral and anal intercourse as well as other sexual practices such as thigh intercourse ( Japanese素 股Sumata ) are not explicitly prohibited. |
| Yemen | Prostitution is forbidden: imprisonment or death penalty. |
| Maldives | Prostitution is prohibited: imprisonment. |
| Oman | It is officially banned, a fine. |
| Pakistan | Prostitution is partly forbidden: In Shiite provinces it is allowed ( Mut'a marriage ), in Sunni provinces it is not. |
| Saudi Arabia | Prostitution is forbidden. The death penalty applies to all persons involved. Customers, prostitutes and pimps are considered to be “involved”. People who knew about the offense without reporting it will also be punished. |
| Thailand | Although prostitution is prohibited in Thailand, it is tolerated and offered directly or indirectly in many places. However, child prostitution is actively pursued and perpetrators face long prison sentences. |
| United Arab Emirates | It is officially banned, but widespread in the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai and is usually not punished here. |
rest of the world
| country | situation |
|---|---|
| Australia | Australia has followed the path of progressive legalization over the past few decades. The regulations vary from state to state. The states of New South Wales and Victoria are the only ones to allow the establishment of brothels. Paying prostitutes for sexual services may be charged with aiding and abetting drug trafficking . |
| Brazil | Prostitution is legal and widespread in Brazil. |
| Canada | Prostitution per se is not prohibited in Canada, but its practice is restricted by numerous regulations. In order to avoid criminal liability, prostitutes have to prove that they do not live from the income from the sex business alone, but also have additional income. Establishing contacts on public streets and squares is prohibited, as is advertising and direct addressing of potential customers. Third parties are liable to prosecution if they rent or make rooms available to prostitutes for the purpose of sexual services. It is also a criminal offense to assist or assist prostitutes in the pursuit of their trade in any way. |
| New Zealand | With a law of 2003, the framework conditions for prostitution, which was already fundamentally legal, were further liberalized. Since then, brothels have been allowed to be set up under state control. Prostitution is far more socially acceptable in New Zealand than in most other English-speaking countries. |
| United States |
With the exception of Nevada , prostitution and the use of sexual services are consistently criminal offenses. However, that does not mean that there is no prostitution in the USA. Many forms are represented, from street prostitutes to expensive call girls . The latter are given to customers by agencies in particular, on the pretext of running a pure escort service without sexual contacts. The legal requirements and their practical implementation differ from state to state, sometimes even from municipality to municipality. In some cases prostitution is more or less tolerated, in some cases it is strictly persecuted. In New York City, for example, street prostitution was largely tolerated in the 1970s and 1980s . The feature film Taxi Driver offers a very realistic picture of street prostitution in this city in the 1970s. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has practically brought the line to a standstill as part of his zero tolerance strategy since 1994 . A popular strategy in the United States to fight prostitution is so-called denouncing ("in the pillory"). The names and photos of both prostitutes and suitors who have been caught are posted by the local police authorities on the Internet or published in newspapers as a deterrent. In the state of Nevada , brothels are permitted in eleven of 17 counties . The counties in which the big cities Las Vegas , Reno and Carson City are located are not included. The city of Pahrump in Nye County , which is about 80 kilometers west of Las Vegas and is visited by many Las Vegas tourists, is particularly known for its legal establishments . In Nevada, a total of about 300 prostitutes work legally in about 30 licensed brothels. Any prostitution outside of these establishments is prohibited throughout the state of Nevada. In front of and in the casinos and hotels in Las Vegas and other cities, however, many women illegally offer their services. In 2014, an official study on the economics of prostitution, drugs and weapons was published for the first time, which makes statements about the type and extent of illegal business in eight metropolises. The results suggest large regional differences, so that there is no uniform picture of prostitution in the USA. A 2015 study shows that even underage prostitutes are more likely to be criminalized than protected. |
Individual evidence
- ↑ Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth, 1. Empirical data on prostitution in Germany, January 2, 2010 ( Memento of the original from March 2, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ German Bundestag, printed matter 14/5958, May 8, 2001 ( Memento of the original from August 16, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 163 kB).
- ↑ Monthly magazine Deutscher Frauenrat 5/97, quoted from GSA .
- ↑ www.bmfsfj.de
- ↑ bka.gv.at ( Memento of the original from December 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ homepage.univie.ac.at (July 31, 2006).
- ↑ bka.gv.at ( Memento of the original from December 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. P. 53, footnote 105.
- ↑ In the Rhine Valley instead of in the “clean Ländle” to the brothel: The de facto prostitution ban in Vorarlberg leads to an accumulation of establishments in St. Gallen , Neue Zürcher Zeitung of July 29, 2011, p. 12.
- ↑ a b c Alexandra Geisler: Human trafficking in women from Eastern Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation ( Memento of the original from December 2, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . In: Bulletin Texte No. 29/30 - Poverty and Gender . Center for transdisciplinary gender studies at the Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin 2005, ISSN 0947-6822 , p. 122. On: gender.hu-berlin.de.
- ↑ a b wirtschaftsblatt-bg.com ( Memento of the original on 27 September 2007 at the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link is automatically inserted and not yet tested. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ bnr.bg ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ bnr.bg ( Memento of the original from December 15, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ Stefan Ulrich: France wants to ban love that can be bought. , sueddeutsche.de of December 8, 2011 , accessed December 8, 2011.
- ^ Prostitution law: France introduces penalties against clients . In: The time . April 6, 2016, ISSN 0044-2070 ( online [accessed February 11, 2017]).
- ↑ Buying sex punishable in Iceland. NIKK June 3 2009 ( Memento of the original from July 24, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs: FAQ Prostitution 2012: Questions and answers on the legal situation in the Netherlands. ( Memento of the original from December 30, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF), accessed December 30, 2013.
- ↑ taz.de : Sex purchase ban in Norway.
- ↑ Country Report Of Portugal ( Memento of the original from January 29, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ - Europe today - In Romania the illegal prostitution business is flourishing .
- ^ Spain, the world capital of prostitution? The Independent, November 25, 2013, accessed November 25, 2013 .
- ^ Away from the line with the help of the EU (tagesschau.de archive).
- ↑ Der Standard , June 28, 2006. online version (August 5, 2006) .
- ↑ Country reports on human trafficking 2011 - Switzerland (classification 2) (PDF; 23 kB), p. 4. On: photos.state.gov.
- ^ Urban Institute: The Hustle .
- ↑ D. Parvaz: Selling American girls. In: projects.aljazeera.com. December 15, 2015, accessed December 19, 2016 .
